An Unpredictable Path: Applying to Graduate School

Applying to graduate school was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life. This past fall, I went through the process of submitting Ph.D. applications to Industrial-Organizational Psychology programs around the country. Putting together my application was quite the rollercoaster. I could not be more excited about the prospect of attending graduate school at one of my dream programs, but this excitement comes along with my fear that I would not be good enough to get accepted into any programs. I worried that I would never be able to participate in enough research, conference presentations, leadership roles, and more.

Even though the thought of rejection was terrifying, I knew that I would have to complete these applications in order to reach my end goal. I put my whole heart into my personal statement and scoured every program's website until I became an expert on their specialities. I spent hours revising and perfecting each component of my application until it perfectly represented me and my dedication to research. Throughout this part of the application process, I realized a few important pieces of information.

1. Speak to your professors. Your professors have gone through the same experience that you are currently in. They can help you organize all of your thoughts and compile them into a clear and effective final product. Professors also have an extensive network and may be able to get you into contact with others in your preferred discipline. My professors connected me with alumni who currently attend I/O Psychology graduate programs, so I set up informational interviews to learn more about their experiences.

2. Schedule time into your day for applications. Life gets busy, especially if you are a current student. Activities, meetings, assignments, and more can all easily take priority over your application. Making yourself pencil in time dedicated to working on your application will greatly reduce your stress later. For example, half of your scheduled block can be devoted to your personal statement and the other half can be focused on nailing down your CV.

3. Don't play into the comparison game. Every single applicant has their own strengths and weaknesses. I often found myself scrolling through social media and seeing my peers post about their academic achievements which made me worry that i was not as involved or as intelligent as I could be. This self-depreciating cycle is a challenge to break out of, but even if another applicant has an amazing accomplishment, that does not automatically cancel out your own accomplishments. Be proud of yourself and how far you have come. Celebrate the accomplishments of others instead of pitting yourself against them.

After submitting all of my applications, I started the waiting game. I had no idea how long it would take until I heard back from any of my programs. It felt like years passed by before I received an invitation for an interview. I was ECSTATIC! Interviews are extremely important because the program gets to see how you answer questions on the fly.

1. Prepare to concisely explain your research. More likely than not, professors will ask you to explain your research interests and projects. Being able to explain your research effectively in a minute or two shows preparedness and expertise.

2. Do your research. Before my interview, I read multiple articles from all the professors I spoke to and wrote down insights I had about their findings. I also looked through lab websites to see what type of research current students were conducting. Many programs have a rough timeline of each students progression through the program which includes coursework. I looked into what classes I would need to take within each program and jotted down the names of those that caught my attention.

3. Ask good questions. While completing your research on the program, think about the information gaps on the website. Are there any areas that need more explanation? If so, make sure to write that down in your list of questions. You do not want to ask questions that can be found easily on the website. I usually asked specific questions about each professor's research articles or about their mentorship style.

Tulane University has a great list of sample questions you may get asked in your interview. Make sure to practice with a friend, family member, or advisor. Having concise, well-thought out answers will help you stand out.

Although this journey is difficult, I would do it over again in a heartbeat in order to have the same outcome. I am so excited for the next chapter of my life, and I hope that some of this advice may help you reach your dreams as well.